Which concept is described by the phrase fruits of the poisonous tree?

• A. Exclusionary Rule
• B. Fruits of the poisonous tree
• C. Hearsay rule
• D. Double jeopardy

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how evidence can be tainted by an illegal action and extend to anything that flows from that action. The phrase fruits of the poisonous tree is the label used to describe this whole phenomenon: if the initial evidence is obtained through an illegal act, the fruits—evidence derived from that tainted source—are generally unusable in court.

So the best answer is the option that literally names this concept—the phrase itself. It captures the notion of tainted evidence and its derivatives. The broader rule at issue is the Exclusionary Rule, which provides the mechanism for excluding tainted evidence, but the question is asking for the concept described by the phrase, i.e., the tainted-evidence idea itself. The other rules mentioned—about hearsay or double jeopardy—address different issues and do not describe this concept.